ORDER GALLIN.E. 227 



this genus, as likewise the argus, which has no relation what- 

 ever with it. 



The common pheasant is too well known to need descrip- 

 tion. The hen is smaller, and has very little expression in 

 her physiognomy : the young, previously to the first moult- 

 ing, have a plumage uniformly grey ; but after this they 

 begin to assume the colours of the adult. 



Although the nature of the pheasant is extremely wild, and 

 he will fly from the least danger, nothing is more easy than 

 to catch him in snares ; he allows himself to be taken indis- 

 criminately in all kinds of traps and nets. He runs with very 

 great celerity, and seldom flies off", except when pursued or 

 hunted. He frequently changes place when the grass or 

 bushes are too moist ; when he takes to flight, his wings 

 make a considerable noise, and the male, at such times, sends 

 forth sonorous cries. The life of the pheasant is calculated 

 at from six to ten years ; he rarely lives longer. 



The pheasants delight most in wooded plains ; they 

 frequent humid places, where they find abundance of snails, 

 of which they are very fond ; the fruit of the wild mulberry is 

 also a favourite food with them, and they eat it in great abun- 

 dance. Their aliment consists besides, in all kinds of grain, 

 small peas, lentils, juniper berries, elder berries, gooseberries, 

 the seed of genista, medlars, beech-mast, pimpernel, worms, 

 ants, and other insects. 



Pheasants usually perch for the purpose of passing the 

 night, and when the young of the first year are pursued, they 

 often place themselves on the branches, even in view of the 

 dog that sets them, which gives an opportunity to the fowler 

 of killing them at his ease. 



The disposition of the pheasant is by no means sociable ; 

 he avoids not only man, but his own fellows ; it is only in 

 the season of reproduction that the male seeks his companion, 

 and this usually takes place towards the montli of March or 



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